ANECDOTE, (Anecdota), a term used by some authors for the titles of Secret Histories; but it more properly denotes a relation of detached and interesting particulars. The word is Greek, anecdota, q. d. things not yet known or hitherto kept secret. Procopius gives this title to a book which he published against Justinian and his wife Theodora; and he seems to be the only person among the ancients who has represented princes such as they are in their domestic relation.—Varillas has published Anecdotes of the House of Medici.